Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: contemporary diagnosis and management

ABSTRACT

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are neoplasms that arise from the hormone producing cells of the islets of Langerhans, also known as pancreatic islet cells. PNETs are considered a subgroup of neuroendocrine tumors, and have unique biology, natural history and clinical management. These tumors are classified as ‘functional’ or ‘non-functional’ depending on whether they release peptide hormones that produce specific hormone- related symptoms, usually in established patterns based on tumor subtype. This manuscript will review pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor subtypes, syndromes, diagnosis, and clinical management.

KEYWORDS:

• Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
• insulinoma
• gastrinoma
• glucagonoma
• somatostatinoma
• VIPoma

Declaration of interest

DG Adler has been a consultant for Boston Scientific. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

This article was not funded.